Hours before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress on Iran tomorrow, Americans for Peace
Now is calling today on Netanyahu to refrain from using his speech to undermine diplomacy with Iran, further
deepening the partisan rift on Capitol Hill, and causing further divisions among American Jews.

Debra DeLee, the President and CEO of Americans for Peace Now (APN) today said:

"Netanyahu decided to address Congress in defiance of pleas from many – both in the US and in Israel – who care
deeply about the damage that this decision is causing to the bilateral relations between the countries. Netanyahu's
decision might also cause damage to the very objective of his visit: bolstering efforts to prevent Iran from
acquiring nuclear weapons.

"The damage already caused is severe, but not irreparable, and the appropriate time for Netanyahu to start
repairing the damage is tomorrow, when he stands before a joint session of Congress.

"It is incumbent upon Netanyahu to deliver a speech that does not compound the damage; a speech that is not an
affront to the president of Israel's chief ally; a speech that does not undermine the Obama administration's
efforts to address Iran's nuclear quest diplomatically; a speech that does not seek to abort a deal with Iran
before it has been born; a speech that does not further polarize Congress, along partisan lines, on Israel; a
speech that helps resolve the deep dissonance among American Jews, who both care deeply about Israel's security and
wellbeing and support the office of the President, support President Barack Obama himself, and support the White
House's efforts to diplomatically resolve the nuclear standoff with Iran.

"Given his stated goals as he comes to Washington, and given his conduct so far in relation to the visit and to
tomorrow's speech, we are extremely concerned about the further damage it may cause. We call on Netanyahu to act
responsibly, and pivot to rebuilding trust with President Obama and his administration, with America's Jewish
community and with the American people."